B.C. Energy Minister Bill Bennett, shown in November, 2010, says energy rates will have to be raised in order to pay for infrastructure upgrades.(Deddeda Stemler For The Globe and Mail)

How the B.C. Liberals, like federal Tories, want to shrink government

Justine Hunter

Victoria — The Globe and Mail

Published Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 2:18PM EST

Last updated Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 2:54PM EST

Bill Bennett, the cabinet minister responsible for the “core review” of the B.C. government, made his first progress report in Victoria on Tuesday morning, announcing two Crown agencies will be folded into the civil service.

This is Round Three of austerity for the B.C. Liberal government, which took power in 2001. The changes announced Tuesday will yield savings of $6.6-million – still well short of Mr. Bennett’s target to harvest $50-million in cuts.